Themed collection Mechanoluminescence

Mechanoluminescent solids are emerging as prime candidates for next-generation industrial and biomedical technologies, enabling effective light-based stress sensing without external power sources.

This review summarizes the mechanisms, developments, and applications of flexible mechano-optical sensors using mechanoluminescence and mechanoplasmonics for robust sensing applications, while addressing challenges and prospects for their integration.

PTZ-2BP exhibits dynamic and durable mechanoluminescence, mainly derived from conformational changes, energy transfer from the crystalline to the amorphous state, and stable molecular packing in crystals.

Divinylbenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (DBTDz)-based compounds were investigated as electroluminescent emitters for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), covering emission wavelengths from yellow to near-infrared (NIR).

Custom apparatus enables quantitative analysis of mechanochromic luminescence (MCL) by controlled grinding and kinetic evaluation of emission-spectral conversion.

A wearable ML+PENG platform using ZnS:Cu in a PDMS polymer matrix, generating light and electrical energy from bending for self-powered underwater communications.

Incorporating lithium into Sr₃Sn₂O₇:Sm³⁺ enhances its mechanoluminescence, enabling applications in stress visualization and temperature monitoring.

Silicon quantum dots with tunable photoluminescence in the visible light range synthesized via a green and facile room-temperature mechanochemical route.

Mechanochromic polymer particles were prepared using difluorenylsuccinonitrile, a radical-type mechanochromophore. The mechanochromic response correlated with particle size and polymer chain mobility.

Herein, it was demonstrated that the persistent luminescence and mechanoluminescence of YPO₄:Sm³⁺, although generated under different external stimuli, are produced from the same trapped charge carriers.

A systematic study using new image processing methods quantified different types of sonochemical activity (i.e. S(C)L and KI dosimetry). Interrelations and distinctions were explored to enhance understanding of sonochemical mechanisms.

In this study, the effects of ball milling conditions on the phase formation, symmetry of structural units and photoluminescence features of SrMoO₄ were investigated.

Molecules undergo stress changes to alter their molecular conformation under mechanical force, effectively achieving reversible MLE luminescence.

This work reports the mechanoluminescence of CaGa₄O₇:Mn²⁺ in terms of relatively long wavelength, high brightness, repeatability, and mechanical responsiveness, which can penetrate biological tissue for visualized biomechanics sensing.

Based on first principles calculations and experiments, a mechanism was proposed to enhance the anisotropy of physical properties, reduce the bandgap, and make the traps caused by stress/defects shallower on the basis of theoretical calculations.

CC bond cis–trans isomerization and “head-to-head” arrangement induced in high-contrast mechanoresponsive luminescence.

Flexible films have multi-mode luminescence and can produce a variety of colors by changing the excitation mode.

External pressure alters the nature of the emissive state of piezoluminescent pyridylvinylanthracene crystals.

Presenting a novel insight into Mn²⁺ luminescence processes in the ZnS nanophosphor and revealing its unique high-pressure luminescence decay behaviour and self-powered mechanoluminescence.

The prepared MGO:Cr³⁺ phosphor has dual-mode emissions for sensing, including NIR photoluminescence and mechanoluminescence. Moreover, the developed light-emitting device has functions of anti-counterfeiting and biological tissue penetration.